Monday, April 10, 2017

MOMENTS OF JOY

Notwithstanding all the sorrows in life someone encounters,
undergoes and feels, it is but fair to recognize and appreciate the delights
and jubilations that also comes his way in one form or another. No, this is not simply a negation of
pessimism nor merely a matter of optimism.
But much less is it the essence of indifferentism that refuses to accept
the truth that life undergoes continuous change of sorrows and joys. So it is that living has its episodes of
sadness but it also has its Moments of
Joy of one kind or another. More
concrete examples are the following:

Moment of Exaltation:

When a woman absolutely pure and relatively advanced in age
is unexpectedly and wherefore surprisingly told and assured that she will
become a mother – she will bear a child, she will have a son to love and care
for, to watch over and play with – such is gladdening and inspiring good
news. It is good new to hear as it
brings about feelings of delight and blessedness. (For example:
The Annunciation)

Moment of Affirmation:

But then, the unexpected joy brought about by the precious
good new of pregnancy in fact becomes more blissful when someone close to and
appreciated by the mother-to-be affirms the latter’s really forthcoming motherhood.
The fact is that both women are related by blood, both of them are
expectant and both of them are indeed truly happy for one another. (For example: The Visitation)

Moment of Rapture:

Then the bliss, the glee and delight in effect come about
when the blessed woman concerned in fact brings to fore her one and only super
precious baby. The truth is that the
singular and blessed birthday event is clearly announced and becomes known to
many, far and near. It is an event worth
knowing about whereas living will never be the same for many people. (For example:
Christmas Day)

Moment of Affirmation:

Time comes when both the mother and the child have to be
affirmed about the dignity and singularity of the baby as well as the nobility
and purity of the mama. The child is
exalted in his person and destiny. The
mama is affirmed for her loving care for the child. So it is that mother and child become
inseparable – with one giving honor and exaltation to another. (For example: The Presentation)

Moment of Jubilation:

But then something pitiful and lamentable comes about, viz.,
the mother fails to find her child, the latter is missing to the perplexity and
grief of the former. She asks around but
to no avail. Until the mama eventually
sees his child talking with older people, answering their questions, resolving
their doubts. (For example: The Finding in the Temple)

For those who think and reflect well, they know and become
aware that while there are days of sorrow or moments of tears in their lives,
there too are occasions of happiness and moments of delight. In other words, there are endearing events
and these are nothing less than Moments of Joy.

Oscar Cruz

About The Blogger

Most Reverend Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. is the Archbishop-Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan. He is currently the Judicial Vicar of the National Tribunal of Appeals. He is a prolific writer, having published several dozen books mostly on judicial and moral matters. His most recent book is about the Social Doctrines of the Church. He also has a blog where he posts regularly. He is an avid coin collector and dabbles in woodworking art.